Tuesday, May 25, 2010

I felt the urge to blog about today. I really wanted to fight it, class is over but I just want to bloggggggggg lol (dont judge me). So while I watch the game ...heres how my day went (current score: magics 86 celtics 86)

Today, I attended Boys and Girls High school in Brooklyn, NY. Back when I was in high school this was one of the best schools in the Brooklyn now, since the old principal has passed away, the school going through reconstruction of sort. The school is now dealing with student scoring within level 1 and 2 on standardize test and students that dont really want to learn. Now my host teachers name is Kendra Nelson who is one of the youngest in the P.E. staff. I find her to be quite fascinating because she's actually finding new ways to keep her students involved and engaged.
The classes I'm working with are all inclusive which mean that special needs students are integrated in our class. Kendra is a great teacher for these students and a great teacher me she allows me to share ideas with her that would increase activity in the classroom. Hopefully tomorrow was as great as today!

Monday, May 17, 2010

This was a great thing to go to I really enjoyed myself when I went. I was able to steal some ideas from graduates about what makes their portfolios stand out from everyone else. One girl used ribbons another fancy paper. But overall the content they used was profound and reading reflections of different students had were amazing. I can def get jiggy with the like of them and just goes to show me the work i have cut out for me next semester.
Picture take by Carlos Malvelol

Saturday, May 15, 2010

My time throughout this semester was well spent. As you may know I am a very involved leader on this SUNY Cortland campus at times this was overwhelming but getting my 10 of outside practice was a breeze.
During this semester I was granted a Resident Assistant position in Glass Tower. As an RA you are responsible for putting on programs for the residence that live there. I recently I did a program on stress relief and taught the students various yoga positions and then as a group we put them altogether into one routine. The students enjoyed this program so much they wanted to do it again. This was valuable experience working with my peers and giving them feedback on their technique, in return the students gave me feed on how well the program was and rate me on my teaching techniques.
Throughout the year I also serve on the executive board of the Caribbean Students Association. Throughout the semester we hold club meetings and event where we teach our members bout issues and events concerning the Caribbean. I feel this time spent can contribute to the outside teaching because in order for each meeting to go on it took a lot of planning and implementing. A lot of what I learned in 255 this semester I even used during our meeting time like instant activities and hooking our members into coming back again next week.
Another extracurricular activity I have is babysitting an 10 month old baby name Jaylah Scott. She was bunches of fun. I would spend time going over ABC's and doing recognition activities with her. By the end of our times together I feel that she really did learn the differences between shapes and recognized some her ABC's.
So all together I reached the goal of 10 hours of outside practice.
RA programs 1.5 x 2= 3
CSA meetings and Event =5x 1=5
Baby Sitting Hours 2 x 3 = 6
total =14 hours!!!!!!!

Friday, May 14, 2010

I am writing to let you know i would like to re-vamp the P.E. program here at I.S.82. Teaching here has become a big part of my life and I have grow close to the students here. So close in fact I know that the students need and want to get out of the gym. At this point you must be saying " Well why don't you plan lessons and just do it?." unfortunately because of budget cuts at our school we were forced to cut the budget for the Physical Education program to less than half it was last year. Our school in is desperate need for new equipment and supplies. We have a school yard that has not been used in years because of its and unsafe environment to bring students into. As an Physical Educator it is my duty to raise physically competent students, now I'm doing the best I can with what we have here but its sad to say that it is not enough.

My colleagues and have created P.E units that are cost effective.I have built a successful unit around the sport Disc Golf. This is a upcoming sport that the students have shown interest in and a chance to show students that Physical Education can happen outside the gym as well. This is more than just a cry for money this is heart felt letter saying we need to do more for our students. Thank you for taking the time out to read my letter I hope to take it into consideration. Feel free to contact me through email regina.morgan23@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you.

1) Where is the web-site from? Where in the world? Which country? What city and state/province is the story from?

This website is based in Canada, Canadian Broadcasting Company/ Radio is where they deliver information through tv and radio. The story is comes from Canada in the Province of Saskatoon.

2) What do you think about this news piece....interesting...why or why not?

This was a very interesting news piece to my surprised. The information that was given through the video shows why we need "good physical education" in schools. I wasn't surprised at the fact that students learning increase because its proven that physical activity places you in a more focused state of mind. Physical activity like this should be placed in classroom all around the world but still adding other technology aspects of P.E. like DDR.

3) Why don’t we hear anything about the PE teacher being involved with City Park Collegiate experiment? How will ensure that your PE program will be a benefit to the students and faculty of your school

As they said in the video this was an alternative school. Schools like this don't put as much focus P.E. as they would math or science. The main focus of alternative schools is to improve the students knowledge to get them into the next level. Is this good? No! If this was my school I turn the whole project around into a reason of why we need vigorous and longer period for physical Education in order to improve the students in ALL subjects not just one or two while also improving students over health and increasing years of healthy life.

4) What are were the main outcomes/benefits of the program? Were you surprised from their findings? Are these outcomes similar to our New York State PE Standards? Explain your answer by giving details and examples, while comparing and contrasting.

The main benefits of the program are that the students improve in their academics and were more focus and easier to handle in the classroom. Like I said before I didn't find the results to surprising because as a teacher of P.E. I know that after vigorous workout I more relaxed, attentive and after a workout is when i do my best work. I find it upsetting that the teachers didn't speak on the added benefits throughout the video yes the students the were able to get their heart rates up but they also shed calories and lost weight due to the program overall.

I would say that the outcomes fitness program meets the New York State physical education standards. Standard 1, personal health and fitness, is achieved because students are improving their health by decreasing their risk of obesity and increasing their physical fitness levels by participating in physical activity. Standard 2, safe and healthy environment, is achieved through this program because the teachers are involved in leading vigorous workouts for the students. Improving the student’s health is achieved in a safe environment, the school. Getting the students energy out by a vigorous workout will increase classroom productivity because the students will be more focused and there will be a decrease in hostility. Standard 3, resource management, is achieved through this program by providing students opportunities outside of the classroom to be involved in physical activity. The teacher can discuss places for students to go to work out or participate in physical activity outside of the school.

5) What is BDNF and what does it have to do with PE and learning? How do you get BDNF or other associated goodies? What are the names of two of the “key” books and their authors that currently outline the benefits of exercise and learning/academics? At least one is mentioned in the news piece

Increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and other growth factors, stimulate neurogenesis, increase resistance to brain insult and improve learning and mental performance. Article called Exercise Enhances Learning and Dr. John Ratey’s Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain are the key books associated with the findings.